Congressman Gonzalez Announces Nearly $300,000 USDA Grant for Affordable Housing in Hidalgo County

February 5, 2018
Press Release

WASHINGTON – Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development has awarded $293,800 Mutual Self-Help Housing Technical Assistance Grant to Proyecto Azteca. The funds will be used to provide Self-Help Housing technical assistance to 15 households in Hidalgo County, Texas, for the construction of new homes over a two-year period.

"Thanks to this grant from USDA Rural Development and the work of Proyecto Azteca, 15 more families in the Rio Grande Valley will become homeowners," Congressman Gonzalez said. "There are so many families across South Texas and across the country who still do not have the opportunity to own a home. This grant gives us a chance to chip away at that number – a few families at a time. I am excited to see this funding come to the 15th District and look forward to partnering with our federal agencies and local authorities to empower more South Texans to become homeowners."

Proyecto Azteca has a long tradition of providing affordable housing opportunities to the residents of Hidalgo County, Texas. With this USDA funding, Proyecto Azteca will assist these low-income families build and modernize homes in rural areas using the self-help method, which allows qualified organizations to help residents with housing construction projects. The residents then provide most of the construction labor on each other's homes, with technical assistance from the organization overseeing the project.

"On behalf of the families and community we serve, Proyecto Azteca would like to express its gratitude for once again receiving funding from USDA Rural Development to continue building homes for low and very low-income residents in Hidalgo County," Proyecto Azteca Assistant Executive Director Amber Arriaga-Salinas said. "Proyecto Azteca believes housing is a stabilizing force from which a family builds their future. The assistance and support we have received from USDA Rural Development with the grant awarded will help 15 of our families build a better future and help Proyecto Azteca move forward with its' mission to Build a Better World. Proyecto Azteca would also like to thank Congressman Gonzalez for advocating for his constituency by promoting decent and affordable housing."

The grant funding may be used to:

  • Give technical and supervisory assistance to participating families;
  • Help other organizations provide self-help technical and supervisory assistance;
  • Recruit families, help them complete loan applications, and carry out activities that enable them to participate.

Congressman Gonzalez looks forward to witnessing the improvements of these new affordable homes and wishes continued success to Proyecto Azteca and the families they work with. Since coming to Congress in 2017, the congressman has pledged his support for expanding affordable housing and advocating for low-income families.

Issues:Economy